Improvement in car-couplings



- H. WITTMANN. V

CAR-COUPLINGS.

Patented Jan. 9, 1877.

mmnol M N.PE|'ERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. D C. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN WITTMANN, OF MANITOWOG, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,072, dated January 9, 1877 application filed July 22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN WITTMANN, of the city and county of Manitowoc and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification In the accompanying .drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section on line a" a, Fig. 2, of my improved car-coupling. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, showing swing-bar in position to guide link.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to so improve the common draw-heads that the link may be readily and conveniently guided to the opposite draw-head by the brakeman without danger of injury to the hand, so that thereby accidents, trouble, and expense may be avoided.

The invention consists of a draw-head with a swing-bar, pivoted to screw-pins at both sides, near the lower part of the same. The swing-bar is. bent of one piece of rod-iron, with side extensions.

In the drawing, A represents a draw-bar of the well-known form that is coupled with the common pin and link. A swing-bar, B, is hung by rearwardly-extending arms D to the ends of pivot-pins O, at both sides, and at the lower part of the draw-head. The swing-bar B drops vertically below the pivot-pins when not in use, and may be readily carried up into horizontal or inclined position by the side extensions B of the same, which admit the ready handling of the swing-bar and the holding of the link from both sides into proper position for coupling. The swing-bar B is bent of one piece of suitable rod-iron, its lower straight part being made of sufficient width to form the side extensions B, the upper parts or arms D being bent or doubled back on the lower part, and then in upward direction to the cross-pins, to which the ends are hung by eyes and retained by the heads and washers of the screw-pins O. The swing-bar may be applied with little expense to any draw-head, and admits the raising and guiding of the link for coupling, if desired. The pendent position of the swing-bar, when the cars are coupled, prevents any damage to the same, as it is entirely out of the way. The ease and steadiness with which the link may be guided for coupling prevents accidents to the attendants and injury to the couplings.

I am aware that it is not, broadly, new to combine a device with a draw-head for adjusting and guiding the coupling-link preparatory to connecting two cars; but the linkguides now known are apt to be broken by the concussion of two drawheads, and are not as simple in construction as the one forming the subject of my invention, which, when not in use, is entirely out of the way and not exposed to danger. My link guide can also be applied to ordinary draw-heads with ease and facility, as it is only held in place by removable pivot screws or studs at the sides of the draw-head.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The link-guide consisting of the horizontal bar B, the side extensions B, and the rearwardly-extending attaching-arms D, formed of one piece of metal, in combination with the draw-head A, having the removable pivot pins or studs 0, all constructed and relatively arranged as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.

H ERMAN N WITTMANN.

Witnesses:

A. PIENING, JOHN FRANZ. 

